Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has leveled serious allegations against Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, accusing him of large-scale land grabbing and mismanagement of state resources.
Speaking during an interview on Liberty TV, Tuggar dismissed Mohammed’s criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration as unfounded and hypocritical.
Tuggar alleged that despite Bauchi State receiving billions of naira in federal allocations, the governor has failed to improve the welfare of residents.
“In October, he received N8.8 billion. In November, it was N9 billion. Yet, there’s no visible improvement in the state,” he said.
The foreign minister accused Governor Mohammed of using state funds for personal enrichment, including acquiring land and properties from poor citizens under the guise of development.
“Instead of investing in social services like education, health, and addressing out-of-school children, he is using these funds to buy land from the poor. This has exacerbated poverty in the state,” Tuggar claimed.
He further alleged that Mohammed has collaborated with unnamed commercial partners to acquire vast tracts of land, displacing subsistence farmers and contributing to widespread poverty.
“In my local government alone, the impact is evident. He is taking large forest areas under the pretext of commercial farming, which only increases the hardship for the people,” Tuggar added.
Tuggar also drew attention to Mohammed’s tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), accusing him of questionable property deals and eviction of residents under the guise of state projects.
“His pattern is clear—he siphons public funds through dubious means. What is happening in Bauchi is deplorable,” Tuggar said.
The accusations come on the heels of Governor Mohammed’s criticism of President Tinubu’s controversial tax reform bill, which he described in December 2023 as a “call to anarchy.”
Mohammed had argued that the reforms would leave northern states financially crippled and unable to pay salaries.
However, Tuggar countered that the Bauchi governor’s criticisms lacked merit, given the alleged mismanagement of state resources.
“With his antecedents, he should focus on addressing the challenges in Bauchi rather than taking cheap shots at the president,” Tuggar remarked.
Governor Bala Mohammed has yet to respond to the allegations.
The tension between the two political figures reflects growing divisions within Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly as the Tinubu administration faces scrutiny over its policies.
Observers have called for transparency and accountability at both state and federal levels to address the allegations.
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